Just because you have allergies doesn't mean you have to put up with ongoing congestion.

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None of us wants to be a mouth-breather, but that's what can happen when you've got a stuffy nose due to allergies. You may think your allergic congestion is caused by too much mucus, but it's really caused by swelling in your nose due to inflamed blood vessels, and it's all a part of an allergic reaction.

Allergies are the result of an overly sensitive immune system, which is normally responsible for protecting your body against harmful substances such as bacteria and viruses. Your immune system reacts to all kinds of substances that are usually harmless. But for people with sensitive systems, the immune system overreacts and releases chemicals called histamines, which cause the symptoms you're very familiar with — itching, nasal swelling, and runny or stuffy nose.

If you're constantly stuffy, the first thing to do is get tested for allergies, says New York – based allergist Clifford W. Bassett, MD, assistant clinical professor of medicine at the Long Island College Hospital and a clinical instructor at the New York University School of Medicine. "If you don't have allergies, you don't need allergy medications. But if you do have [seasonal] allergies, we do pre-treatment early in the allergy season. As you get into the allergy season, you may need fewer medications," he says. "We can be very aggressive in treating allergies early in the season — in February or March when pollen starts to get released and you begin to have congestion. Once the nose is swollen, it's harder to get it down and relieve that congestion."

Over-the-Counter and Home Remedies for Allergy Congestion

Before you head to the doctor's office, there are plenty of over-the-counter medicines that can help relieve your irritated nose. There are spray and oral decongestants, which shrink the blood vessels in your nose. But be careful; you shouldn't use these nose sprays longer than three days because they can eventually make congestion worse, and you can become somewhat dependent on them. Antihistamines can block the histamines in your body from acting in your nose, but they work best if taken before allergic symptoms even start, and they need to be taken regularly if you are continually exposed to whatever is causing your symptoms. Many (but not all) over-the-counter antihistamines can cause drowsiness.

An alternative treatment, which has been around for hundreds of years, is called the neti pot. The ceramic pot, which looks a bit like a small tea pot, is used to cleanse your nasal cavity with salt water.

"The neti pot is part of a process of nasal or saline lavage (washing) and, in some cases, when people produce mucus, it's helpful to reduce the mucus," says Dr. Bassett. "However, it's not necessary [for] people with allergies because their congestion usually isn't caused by mucus."

For those allergy sufferers who also tend to have related sinus problems, such as sinusitis, regular nasal cleansings with the neti pot may help, Bassett says, adding that some users claim it's the best way to prevent their ongoing nasal problems.

If your allergy symptoms respond quickly to these simple remedies, you may be one of many people who can successfully manage their allergies at home. If not, don't wait too long to see your doctor for more relief.

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